This stock comparison examines ARMK (Aramark) and MSA (MSA Safety), two established players in distinct yet essential services sectors. Aramark focuses on food, facilities, and uniform management for institutions, while MSA Safety specializes in protective equipment for hazardous environments. Traders seeking exposure to consumer-driven growth or defensive industrial stability, and investors evaluating relative performance in a volatile market, will find value in analyzing their recent momentum, valuations, and sector dynamics. This analysis highlights key metrics for informed stock comparison decisions.
Aramark (ARMK) is a leading provider of food services, facilities management, and uniforms to education, healthcare, business, sports, and corrections clients across North America and internationally. With over 278,000 employees, it operates on long-term contracts, generating stable recurring revenue.
In recent market activity, ARMK shares traded around $45, near the upper end of their 52-week range ($35-$47), with YTD gains of 22% outperforming the S&P 500's 8%. The stock rose 4-5% over the past month amid anticipation for Q2 earnings. Influences include strong Q1 results with 6% revenue growth to $4.8 billion (organic +5%, adjusted for calendar shift +8%) and reaffirmed full-year guidance of 7-9% organic growth. Base business expansion and new wins bolstered sentiment, though higher P/E (38x trailing) reflects growth expectations.
MSA Safety (MSA) manufactures advanced safety products, including gas detection, fall protection, respirators, and head-to-toe gear for workers in mining, oil, fire service, and manufacturing. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, it serves global markets with a focus on innovation since 1914.
Recently, MSA shares hovered near $169, within a 52-week range ($151-$209), posting modest YTD returns of 6% amid broader market gains. Over one year, returns reached about 9%. Q1 performance drove positive momentum with 10% sales growth to $464 million (organic +3%), adjusted EPS up 18% to $1.99 beating estimates, and margin expansion to 21.8%. Americas strength offset international softness from Europe and Middle East issues; a $555 million Autronica acquisition signals growth. At a 23x P/E, valuation appears reasonable relative to peers.
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Aramark (ARMK) and MSA Safety (MSA) diverge in business models: ARMK's contract-based services emphasize volume in education and healthcare, sensitive to economic cycles, while MSA's product sales target safety-critical industries like energy and firefighting, offering recession resistance.
Growth drivers contrast: ARMK leverages organic expansion (7-9% guided) and new wins; MSA pursues M&A (e.g., Autronica) and product innovation amid mid-single-digit sales outlook. Recent momentum favors ARMK with 22% YTD vs. 6%, but MSA shows earnings stability.
Risk factors include ARMK's higher beta (1.16) and debt leverage versus MSA's lower volatility (beta 0.97) and strong margins. Sector exposure pits consumer services against industrials, with MSA benefiting from regulatory tailwinds. Sentiment tilts toward ARMK for growth, MSA for value at lower P/E.
Tickeron’s AI currently favors ARMK over MSA, based on superior recent trend consistency, higher YTD momentum (22% vs. 6%), and stronger organic growth catalysts in a recovering services environment. While MSA offers stability and attractive valuation, ARMK's relative positioning suggests greater upside probability in the near term, though both exhibit solid fundamentals.
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It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ARMK’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileMSA’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ARMK’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MSA’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
ARMK (@Office Equipment/Supplies) experienced а +1.61% price change this week, while MSA (@Miscellaneous Commercial Services) price change was -0.87% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Office Equipment/Supplies industry was +3.51%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.47%, and the average quarterly price growth was +0.30%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Miscellaneous Commercial Services industry was +0.85%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.26%, and the average quarterly price growth was +97.10%.
ARMK is expected to report earnings on Aug 11, 2026.
MSA is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
The industry produces equipment regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, and could range from items like Blank sheet paper, calendars, Label and adhesive paper, paper clips, janitorial supplies, to larger /higher cost products like computers, printers, photocopiers, office furniture and so on. Many businesses in the office supply industry have been expanding into related markets like business cards, plus printing and binding of high quality, high volume business and engineering documents. Some companies in this industry also offer shipping services, including packaging and bulk mailing. Herman Miller, Inc., Steelcase Inc. and HNI Corporation.
@Miscellaneous Commercial Services (+0.85% weekly)The sector produces general business services, and are not classified elsewhere. For example, FleetCor Technologies provides fuel cards and workforce payment products and services; Copart, Inc. provides online vehicle auction and remarketing services across various nations; Equifax Inc. collects and aggregates credit information on consumers and businesses worldwide, along with selling credit monitoring and fraud-prevention services. Many of the companies in this category have multi-billion market capitalizations.
| ARMK | MSA | ARMK / MSA | |
| Capitalization | 14.3B | 6.17B | 232% |
| EBITDA | 1.35B | 488M | 276% |
| Gain YTD | 48.029 | 0.416 | 11,558% |
| P/E Ratio | 40.50 | 21.58 | 188% |
| Revenue | 19.4B | 1.92B | 1,012% |
| Total Cash | 476M | 180M | 264% |
| Total Debt | 6.42B | 658M | 976% |
ARMK | MSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 89 | 64 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 29 Undervalued | 91 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 98 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 67 | 42 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 40 | 70 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 28 | 58 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 35 | 85 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ARMK's Valuation (29) in the Restaurants industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MSA (91) in the Other Consumer Specialties industry. This means that ARMK’s stock grew somewhat faster than MSA’s over the last 12 months.
ARMK's Profit vs Risk Rating (17) in the Restaurants industry is significantly better than the same rating for MSA (98) in the Other Consumer Specialties industry. This means that ARMK’s stock grew significantly faster than MSA’s over the last 12 months.
MSA's SMR Rating (42) in the Other Consumer Specialties industry is in the same range as ARMK (67) in the Restaurants industry. This means that MSA’s stock grew similarly to ARMK’s over the last 12 months.
ARMK's Price Growth Rating (40) in the Restaurants industry is in the same range as MSA (70) in the Other Consumer Specialties industry. This means that ARMK’s stock grew similarly to MSA’s over the last 12 months.
ARMK's P/E Growth Rating (28) in the Restaurants industry is in the same range as MSA (58) in the Other Consumer Specialties industry. This means that ARMK’s stock grew similarly to MSA’s over the last 12 months.
| ARMK | MSA | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 56% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 44% | 3 days ago 41% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 62% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 44% | 3 days ago 58% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 55% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 59% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 63% | 3 days ago 52% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 11 days ago 56% | 7 days ago 54% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 47% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 56% |
| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| TTT | 68.24 | 0.62 | +0.91% |
| ProShares UltraPro Short 20+ Year Trs | |||
| SMOM | 28.04 | 0.25 | +0.91% |
| Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum ETF | |||
| XLK | 184.80 | 1.59 | +0.87% |
| State Street®TechSelSectSPDR®ETF | |||
| QDTE | 30.74 | 0.24 | +0.79% |
| Roundhill Innovt-100 0DTE CovCllStratETF | |||
| UAUG | 41.80 | 0.03 | +0.08% |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra BufferETFAug | |||
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ARMK has been loosely correlated with MSA. These tickers have moved in lockstep 51% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ARMK jumps, then MSA could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ARMK | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARMK | 100% | -0.48% | ||
| MSA - ARMK | 51% Loosely correlated | +0.25% | ||
| ARLO - ARMK | 50% Loosely correlated | +1.65% | ||
| EXPO - ARMK | 49% Loosely correlated | +0.81% | ||
| GHC - ARMK | 45% Loosely correlated | +1.55% | ||
| EFX - ARMK | 45% Loosely correlated | +2.59% | ||
More | ||||